Archives for June 2014

How do you feel about new, high-voltage power lines crossing through the area. The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold public meetings this summer

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The proposed high-powered line is known as the Grain Belt Express — carrying power generated by wind turbines in Kansas. The lines would carry electricity to a substation in Indiana. It’s a big project — 750 miles and 2.2-BILLION to build. The Public Service Commission has hearings scheduled in eight counties to get input before deciding if the lines can be built in Missouri. In our area, hearings set for Marceline and Moberly on August 13th.

Even though the work week is shortened by the fourth of July holiday, MoDOT will be starting several road projects in northeast Missouri today. The work includes including pavement repairs in Macon County, culvert replacement in Adair County and patching operations in Schuyler County. Weather dependent, MoDOT crews will begin culvert replacement on Route K between Bootjack and Youngstown trails in Adair County Monday. Crews will also be working on Missouri 3 today through Thursday closing one lane for pavement repairs. Crews will also be restricting Missouri 156 to one lane from Missouri 3 to Missouri 149 on Wednesday and Thursday.

Crews will be conducting patching operations on several routes in Schuyler County. Route AA will be closed to one lane today from Missouri 15 at Memphis to the end of state maintenance a Scotland County Road 458. Highway 15 will be closed Monday through Tuesday from US 136 at Memphis to the Iowa state line. Route BB will be restricted to one lane starting tomorrow from Missouri 15 north of Memphis to the end of state maintenance at Scotland County Road 706. Route H will be restricted to one lane Wednesday from Missouri 15 at Brock to US 136 spur at Arbela. Route N will be restricted to one lane Wednesday from Route H north of Arbela to Route K in Clark County north of Luray.

The Kirksville Regional Office of the Missouri Division of Development Disabilities is letting nine people go because of sweeping budget cuts announced by Gov. Jay Nixon. Local officials say the office will remain open for all services. Nixon announced nearly $276 million in line-item vetoes last week along with $846 million in spending restrictions. That resulted in the elimination of 260 state jobs and closing of 19 regional offices throughout the Departments of Revenue, Natural Resources and Mental Health.

The Kirksville Regional Office serves Adair, Macon, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Knox, Lewis, Clark, Putnam, Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Mercer and Sullivan counties, providing eligibility determination, quality enhancement, contract provider monitoring, service coordination, consumer advocacy and crisis services. After the cuts, thirteen people will remain employed in Kirksville. The cuts are in the clerical functions and at the management level. Management of the Kirksville office will be transferred to the Central Missouri Regional Office in Columbia. Similar moves were made at regional offices in Albany, Hannibal, Joplin, Poplar Bluff and Rolla, resulting in the elimination of 66 positions.

The wreck happened on West US 24. 17 year old Gregory Martin Moberly ran into a Renegade Scooter that was stopped in the road. The impact sent the man and woman flying off the scooter. 37 year old Duane Collins and 23 year old Gabrielle Wells had moderate injuries. No word on whether any charges will be filed.

The Highway 5 Corridor Coalition, comprised of representatives from Chariton, Linn, Sullivan and Putnam counties, has announced its support for Constitutional Amendment 7, the August ballot issue to raise $5.4 billion for transportation in Missouri. Commission Chair Brad Scott said in a news release yesterday, “Our state is in desperate need of transportation infrastructure enhancements and the counties and communities along Highway 5 stand to benefit significantly should the ballot issue pass.”

If passed, Scott said, Highway 5 will be widened and rumble strips added from Highway 36, north into Putnam County. Chariton County will see road and bridge improvement in several places, and each county and incorporated city will receive funds to assist in their own priorities. The ¾ cent sales tax exempts groceries, medicine and gasoline and will sunset in 10 years and produce a projected $5.4 billion.

An Adair-county home owner acting on their suspicions is being given the credit for leading authorities to a pair of burglars. Dustin S. Partin, and Spencer R. Jacques, both of Kirksville, are being held on 25-thousand dollar cash bonds. Early Wednesday the homeowner on Motter Hill Way noticed a vehicle driving slowly past his home, then continue on down the road. He followed, finding a blue SUV backed up to an open shed on the property of a neighbor. It was later discovered that this shed had been burglarized. The homeowner contacted 9-1-1, giving information that led to a deputy stopping Dustin Partin near Greentop. He was held for a revoked drivers license and later charged with the burglary. Additional investigation led to the arrest of Spencer Jacques.

The Red Cross hopes you will celebrate the July 4th holiday by rolling up your sleeves.

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It happens about this time every year. People on vacation. Appointments to give blood drop. The Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors because vacation season or not…emergencies where blood is need don’t take a holiday. O negative, B negative, and A negative are especially needed. On Monday, there’s a blood drive in Adair county from 2-6 at Keller Community building in Brashear. Visit red cross dot org for other blood drives in the area

Women in farming and agriculture are encouraged to answer the call for applications for consideration as the state’s Woman in Agriculture, with the honor to be conferred at the upcoming Missouri State Fair. The state fair board is accepting entries for the two age divisions now through July 7 for the title of Missouri Woman in Agriculture. The second annual contest will provide each winner with a $1,000 donation from Monsanto for a non-profit agriculture-related cause of her choice. Women ages 31 and older are encouraged to apply for the Missouri Woman in Agriculture Award while women ages 18 to 30 are eligible for the Missouri Woman in Agriculture Rising Star Award. The selection process is based on factors like leadership roles in Missouri agriculture, efforts to support and expand the industry and Missouri State Fair participation. Contest applications are due by 5 p.m. July 7.

The Rotary Club of Kirksville – North Star is sponsoring Missouri’s North Star BBQ Championship on August 15th-16th at the NEMO Fairgrounds. Professional teams from around the country will be competing, hoping to win a coveted spot at the 2014 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ. The event is state-sanctioned by Kansas City Barbecue Societythe Local teams are encouraged to compete in the amateur division. Everyone in the community is invited to the event to help judge the amateur competition and find out who has the best BBQ.

The public event will open at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 15 at the NEMO Fairgrounds. It costs $5 to enter the event. Entrance includes sampling the amateur competition BBQ while food lasts and enjoying entertainment on stage. Local vendors will also be on hand.

The coroner says that the two women who died in the mobile home on Tuesday, died from breathing in too much smoke. There was no signs of foul play in the death of 78-year-old Bernice Johnson and her 54-year-daughter, Lynice Newton. The trailer went up in flames quickly, thought the cause of the fire is not known it is thought it started in the living room and they had several working smoke detectors in the trailer.